5.31.2006
My Friend RW/HW
Robbie Wilkins, born Herbert Wainwright, was born circa 1978. On his quest for awesomness he has come to realized that through travel, false death hoaxes and genuine friendships he is able to pull off just about anything. Under the notion that pooled free thinking can generate harmonious and self assured creative skill, this visionary is well on his way to suprising himself on a regular basis.
5.29.2006
Your Next Dance Party
Yesterday at the Goodwill, among other things I procured the soundtrack to my next party. Or yours, if you're lucky. The cassette tape is entitled D.j. Mix vol. 2 '97, a mega-mix courtesy of MC Mario.
Side 1
DJ Mix '97 Vol. 2 Theme
Freak Nasty - Da Dip
Angelina - I Don't Need Your Love
Amber - This Is Your Night
Funky Green Dogs - Fired Up!
Althea McQueen - Heartbroken
Boris D'Lugosch - Keep Pushin'
The Original - I Luv U Baby
Pump House Gang - Bang Bump
Side 2
Joi Cardwell - Soul To Bare
Outhere Brothers - La La La Hey Hey
RuPaul - Snapshot
La Bouche - Be My Lover
2 Live Crew - Do The Damn Thing
Lina Santiago - Feels So Good (Show Me Your Love)
Maxi Priest - That Girl
Camp Lo - Luchini aka (This Is It)
SWV - It's All About You
So, who wants to dance?
5.28.2006
Two brief quotations from yesterday
E: Sometimes I mix things up.
A: Sometimes I mix things up, too. Sometimes, I forget that rain is not yellow.
E: I need some fresh air.
J: Should we open the windows?
P: No, there's no fresh air outside.
We celebrated a lovely 60th birthday for my mother, including lattes at the Mill, a stroll around the farmer's market, making lunch at my house, then going on a walk that mysteriously ended up at Bella, where we had massages, facials, wine and cheese (homemade by Krista Dittman, no less), a totally packed screening of The Real Dirt on Farmer John, which you should go see this week at the Ross, a reception with local food thereafter, and then a gathering at the farm with snacks, sangria, and mojitos that had a lovely staging of arrivals of guests, making me stay much longer than anticipated.
A: Sometimes I mix things up, too. Sometimes, I forget that rain is not yellow.
E: I need some fresh air.
J: Should we open the windows?
P: No, there's no fresh air outside.
We celebrated a lovely 60th birthday for my mother, including lattes at the Mill, a stroll around the farmer's market, making lunch at my house, then going on a walk that mysteriously ended up at Bella, where we had massages, facials, wine and cheese (homemade by Krista Dittman, no less), a totally packed screening of The Real Dirt on Farmer John, which you should go see this week at the Ross, a reception with local food thereafter, and then a gathering at the farm with snacks, sangria, and mojitos that had a lovely staging of arrivals of guests, making me stay much longer than anticipated.
5.26.2006
Ad Douche Episode Zwei
Not quite as good as the first, but nonetheless a nice read. N.B. the reference to Nebraska; I'd like to assure you that this non-coastal self is a confident reverse migrator.
5.25.2006
If only Robbie updated more
Robbie's Something/Anything is my semi-weekly news of the weird update. And for this, I thank him.
5.23.2006
5.22.2006
Keep 'Em Comin'
Jean Rohe, a brand-new graduate of the New School, gave this fantastic speech just before the keynote John McCain:
If all the world were peaceful now and forever more,
Peaceful at the surface and peaceful at the core,
All the joy within my heart would be so free to soar,
And we're living on a living planet, circling a living star.
Don't know where we're going but I know we're going far.
We can change the universe by being who we are,
And we're living on a living planet, circling a living star.
Welcome everyone on this beautiful afternoon to the commencement ceremony for the New School class of 2006. That was an excerpt of a song I learned as a child called "Living Planet" by Jay Mankita. I chose to begin my address this way because, as always, but especially now, we are living in a time of violence, of war, of injustice. I am thinking of our brothers and sisters in Iraq, in Darfur, in Sri Lanka, in Mogadishu, in Israel/Palestine, right here in the U.S., and many, many other places around the world. And my deepest wish on this day--on all days--is for peace, justice, and true freedom for all people. The song says, "We can change the universe by being who we are," and I believe that it really is just that simple.
Right now, I'm going to be who I am and digress from my previously prepared remarks. I am disappointed that I have to abandon the things I had wanted to speak about, but I feel that it is absolutely necessary to acknowledge the fact that this ceremony has become something other than the celebratory gathering that it was intended to be due to all the media attention surrounding John Mc Cain's presence here today, and the student and faculty outrage generated by his invitation to speak here. The senator does not reflect the ideals upon which this university was founded. Not only this, but his invitation was a top-down decision that did not take into account the desires and interests of the student body on an occasion that is supposed to honor us above all, and to commemorate our achievements.
What is interesting and bizarre about this whole situation is that Senator Mc Cain has stated that he will be giving the same speech at all three universities where he has been invited to speak recently, of which ours is the last; those being Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, Columbia University, and finally here at the New School. For this reason I have unusual foresight concerning the themes of his address today. Based on the speech he gave at the other institutions, Senator Mc Cain will tell us today that dissent and disagreement are our "civic and moral obligation" in times of crisis. I consider this a time of crisis and I feel obligated to speak. Senator Mc Cain will also tell us about his cocky self-assuredness in his youth, which prevented him from hearing the ideas of others. In so doing, he will imply that those of us who are young are too naïve to have valid opinions and open ears. I am young, and although I don't profess to possess the wisdom that time affords us, I do know that preemptive war is dangerous and wrong, that George Bush's agenda in Iraq is not worth the many lives lost. And I know that despite all the havoc that my country has wrought overseas in my name, Osama bin Laden still has not been found, nor have those weapons of mass destruction.
Finally, Senator Mc Cain will tell us that we, those of us who are Americans, "have nothing to fear from each other." I agree strongly with this, but I take it one step further. We have nothing to fear from anyone on this living planet. Fear is the greatest impediment to the achievement of peace. We have nothing to fear from people who are different from us, from people who live in other countries, even from the people who run our government--and this we should have learned from our educations here. We can speak truth to power, we can allow our humanity always to come before our nationality, we can refuse to let fear invade our lives and to goad us on to destroy the lives of others. These words I speak do not reflect the arrogance of a young strong-headed woman, but belong to a line of great progressive thought, a history in which the founders of this institution play an important part. I speak today, even through my nervousness, out of a need to honor those voices that came before me, and I hope that we graduates can all strive to do the same.
If all the world were peaceful now and forever more,
Peaceful at the surface and peaceful at the core,
All the joy within my heart would be so free to soar,
And we're living on a living planet, circling a living star.
Don't know where we're going but I know we're going far.
We can change the universe by being who we are,
And we're living on a living planet, circling a living star.
Welcome everyone on this beautiful afternoon to the commencement ceremony for the New School class of 2006. That was an excerpt of a song I learned as a child called "Living Planet" by Jay Mankita. I chose to begin my address this way because, as always, but especially now, we are living in a time of violence, of war, of injustice. I am thinking of our brothers and sisters in Iraq, in Darfur, in Sri Lanka, in Mogadishu, in Israel/Palestine, right here in the U.S., and many, many other places around the world. And my deepest wish on this day--on all days--is for peace, justice, and true freedom for all people. The song says, "We can change the universe by being who we are," and I believe that it really is just that simple.
Right now, I'm going to be who I am and digress from my previously prepared remarks. I am disappointed that I have to abandon the things I had wanted to speak about, but I feel that it is absolutely necessary to acknowledge the fact that this ceremony has become something other than the celebratory gathering that it was intended to be due to all the media attention surrounding John Mc Cain's presence here today, and the student and faculty outrage generated by his invitation to speak here. The senator does not reflect the ideals upon which this university was founded. Not only this, but his invitation was a top-down decision that did not take into account the desires and interests of the student body on an occasion that is supposed to honor us above all, and to commemorate our achievements.
What is interesting and bizarre about this whole situation is that Senator Mc Cain has stated that he will be giving the same speech at all three universities where he has been invited to speak recently, of which ours is the last; those being Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, Columbia University, and finally here at the New School. For this reason I have unusual foresight concerning the themes of his address today. Based on the speech he gave at the other institutions, Senator Mc Cain will tell us today that dissent and disagreement are our "civic and moral obligation" in times of crisis. I consider this a time of crisis and I feel obligated to speak. Senator Mc Cain will also tell us about his cocky self-assuredness in his youth, which prevented him from hearing the ideas of others. In so doing, he will imply that those of us who are young are too naïve to have valid opinions and open ears. I am young, and although I don't profess to possess the wisdom that time affords us, I do know that preemptive war is dangerous and wrong, that George Bush's agenda in Iraq is not worth the many lives lost. And I know that despite all the havoc that my country has wrought overseas in my name, Osama bin Laden still has not been found, nor have those weapons of mass destruction.
Finally, Senator Mc Cain will tell us that we, those of us who are Americans, "have nothing to fear from each other." I agree strongly with this, but I take it one step further. We have nothing to fear from anyone on this living planet. Fear is the greatest impediment to the achievement of peace. We have nothing to fear from people who are different from us, from people who live in other countries, even from the people who run our government--and this we should have learned from our educations here. We can speak truth to power, we can allow our humanity always to come before our nationality, we can refuse to let fear invade our lives and to goad us on to destroy the lives of others. These words I speak do not reflect the arrogance of a young strong-headed woman, but belong to a line of great progressive thought, a history in which the founders of this institution play an important part. I speak today, even through my nervousness, out of a need to honor those voices that came before me, and I hope that we graduates can all strive to do the same.
5.18.2006
Separate Piece
I am so proud to be a part of this incredible work. Patrick Wilkins is not to be missed. Come down to the Loft at the Mill Friday or Saturday at 7, drink some wine, hear some music, and be in the presence of a phenomenal actor and person.
5.16.2006
Doesn't this look nice?
A lovely map, where favorable approval rating majorites for Mr. Bush are red. Blue is and stays my favorite color. Note also that my beautiful Nebraska is red no longer!
Reading Group Open Invitation
Anyone who'd like to join on to reading Kafka on the Shore is welcome; just post a comment and I'll fill you in on the details!
5.15.2006
A Good Way to Devour Time I Think I Don't Have
I walked to the neighborhood library this evening, and picked up Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. It is the first novel I've read in a very long time, and Brett and I are reading it together. After the first few chapters, I've already been reminded why I spent entire Saturdays holed up in my room as a child, why I loved being able to go to the library during school.
Though the jacket on the right is the same as the one I have, I love, of course, the black cat on the latter one. A Japanese Kater Mikesch, perhaps? (Mikesch, the name of my parents' cat and the first truly important cat in my life, takes his name from a Czech fable similar to Puss in Boots. He is very clever, walks on his hind legs, talks, and is even so good at Math that he proceeds to tell his young friend that he doesn't understand why children think Math is so hard, for, clearly, 1+1=11.)
Is there something ironic
about listening to a program on Freud whilst doing several different things, not ever fully paying attention to it and allowing it to seep into my ears, dare I say, subliminally?
This week, I'm gearing up to do lighting design again, this time for Patrick Wilkins and his one-man show, Separate Piece, which opens Thursday at the Loft at the Mill. I'm also waiting on audio equipment, hoping to get the final word on hiring crew for advertising production, and attempting to finalize plans for my
mother's sixtieth birthday.
This week, I'm gearing up to do lighting design again, this time for Patrick Wilkins and his one-man show, Separate Piece, which opens Thursday at the Loft at the Mill. I'm also waiting on audio equipment, hoping to get the final word on hiring crew for advertising production, and attempting to finalize plans for my
mother's sixtieth birthday.
5.12.2006
If I'm going to use a Net, it better be Neutral
This issue has been brewing for quite some time now, and it's about time for me to jump on the ol' bandwagon of freedom. Basically, it would be incredibly easy for companies who work in telecommunications to link up with the rest of corporate America and block, restrict, filter, or redirect your ability to access content on the Internet. Capitalism meets the Marketplace of Ideas, if you will. That's total bullshit. Don't let it happen.
5.11.2006
Bowling
I just went bowling (at Hollywood Bowl, for the first time), got drunk, and rolled some terrible scores.
5.09.2006
Vote, You Lazy Sack of ____
Go vote today. For my recommendations, see the post below. Here, you can find your polling place. If you've moved since registering to vote, no worries: just go to the polling place in your new neighborhood and tell them that.
Polls are open from 8 AM to 8 PM CDT.
Polls are open from 8 AM to 8 PM CDT.
5.08.2006
Savage Burns Cities, Countless Dead
Last night, my friend Jillian Savage decided that if she ever committed an act of arson, she would be unstoppable, prompting today's headline. Interestingly enough, this coincides with the anniversary of the Station Nightclub Fire, a morning on which I was awakened by several phone calls from nervous friends hoping I hadn't decided to see Great White in a bout of irony.
Tomorrow is primary election day here in Nebraska, and so here on the Non-Coastal Simulacral Extravaganza, I'm providing my very own VOTER GUIDE. My endorsements, presented in completely non-journalistic fashion, are provided below.
Governor: (this one is obvious) David Hahn
The man is smart, articulate, and can definitely clearly explain his position on any issue, no bullshit. Plus he drinks PBR.
US Senate: Ben Nelson
Sure, he may vote with the Republicans some of the time, and sure I'm a lot more liberal than he is, but do we really want Pete Ricketts (son of a billionaire, named after a disease, uses comic sans) representing us? (By the way, if you're one of those shits who has changed parties to vote in the GOP gubernatorial primary, who are you voting for in the Senate race?)
Constitutional Amendment
Vote FOR raising the Legislature's annual salary. I mean, c'mon. They haven't had a raise in years, and how can you expect progressives who aren't independently wealthy to hold public office on a meager salary?
Bond Issue: Parks and Recreation
Vote FOR a bond to create parks and a bike trail along the beltway. Yay for bike trails! Yay for trees! Yay for greenways!
US House District 1: Maxine Moul
US House District 2: Jim Esch
He's young and attractive, and hired Archrival to do his superb website and branding.
US House District 3: Scott Kleeb
Young, attractive, rancher/cowboy with Master's and PhD from Yale in Western Agriculture.
Secretary of State: Don Eret or Jay Stoddard, advantage to Eret
Nebraska Unicameral Seats
District 26: Amanda McGill
I work with her, she's great.
District 28: Mark Munger, Rick Poore
Munger is a solid choice, and I work with his daughter. Poore is more liberal, and I like that. Bill Avery is also a Democrat. Basically, Dist. 28 has a tough choice to make.
District 46: Danielle Nantkes
Phew!
Tomorrow is primary election day here in Nebraska, and so here on the Non-Coastal Simulacral Extravaganza, I'm providing my very own VOTER GUIDE. My endorsements, presented in completely non-journalistic fashion, are provided below.
Constitutional Amendment
Vote FOR raising the Legislature's annual salary. I mean, c'mon. They haven't had a raise in years, and how can you expect progressives who aren't independently wealthy to hold public office on a meager salary?
Bond Issue: Parks and Recreation
Vote FOR a bond to create parks and a bike trail along the beltway. Yay for bike trails! Yay for trees! Yay for greenways!
Nebraska Unicameral Seats
Phew!
5.05.2006
This is a very special day
Just in case today was not exciting enough, what with people graduating and Cinco de Mayo AND both of my art openings, it is, in fact, NO PANTS DAY
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